Australia Rejects Turkiye’s Proposal to Co-Host COP31 as Diplomatic Standoff Drags On

Australia on Monday rejected Turkiye’s proposal to co-host next year’s UN climate summit, deepening a standoff that is overshadowing ongoing COP30 negotiations in Brazil.

Both countries are vying to host COP31, and the deadlock is putting pressure on Canberra and Ankara to resolve the issue before the summit in Belem concludes. A host must be chosen by consensus; without withdrawal or agreement on a joint arrangement, both bidders risk losing out. In that case, hosting rights would revert to Germany — an unprecedented outcome.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese firmly dismissed the idea of co-hosting with Turkiye, saying, “That’s not an option … it has been ruled out.”

A Turkish diplomatic source told AFP that Ankara still favors a co-presidency but is prepared to host alone if no consensus emerges.

Australia is campaigning to stage COP31 in Adelaide alongside its Pacific Island partners, hoping to draw global attention to a region facing severe climate impacts. Pacific leaders have long argued that COP summits sideline their concerns, while Australia itself remains highly vulnerable to climate change.

Hosting COP31 would also increase scrutiny of Australia’s climate record. The world’s second-largest coal exporter has long struggled with divisive “climate wars” that delayed emissions policy and left the national economy dependent on fossil fuels.

If successful, Australia would bring the annual conference to the Pacific region for the first time.

Turkiye, meanwhile, wants the summit to prioritize the world’s most vulnerable regions, including potential special sessions on Pacific issues, the diplomatic source said.

Brazil has appointed a mediator to help bridge the divide, but diplomats report no meaningful progress as COP30 approaches its November 21 deadline.